José Manuel Barroso: Ukip will beat Tories to become 'first force' in British politics

Ukip will become "the first force in British elections" because voters will
prefer the real Euroscepticism of Nigel Farage to the copycat Conservative
imitation of it, the European Commission president has said.

European Commission President Barroso addresses the European Parliament in StrasbourgPhoto: Reuters

Using provocative language, José Manuel Barroso, the head of the European Union's executive, strongly implied thatDavid Cameron's Euroscepticism is fake while Ukip's is the genuine article.

"Your party is looking like Ukip. I have some doubts whether you are going to be elected in Britain or if it is not Ukip that will be the first force in British elections," he told MEPs

"Because when it comes to be against Europe people prefer the original to the copy. That is probably why they are going to vote for Mr Farage. I don't say this with any kind of satisfaction because although we have our differences we have worked together in many areas with the Conservatives."

A source close to the Prime Minister said: "The president of the European Commission should respect the views of the governing party elected by the people of Britain.

"Of course it would be more convenient to the Brussels elite to have other parties they think they can ignore.

"However, the prime minister will continue to stand up for the British people, fighting to ensure they get the best deal in Europe and have a say on it in a referendum by 2017."

Mr Barroso and other senior Brussels officials have been dismayed by the Prime Minister's promise to give Britons a referendum on Europe and to repatriate powers from Brussels, pledges that are seen as putting Britain on an exit track from the EU.

The comments were made after a Tory MEP, Martin Callanan the leader of the European Conservative group in the EU assmbly, used a parliamentary debate to accuse the commission of representing the "vested interests of the European District in Brussels not the people of Europe".

"It's a bit rich for an unelected head of the European Commission to give electoral advice. But I suppose that is typical of him," Mr Callanan replied.

In a rare outbreak of unity, Mr Farage, the leader of Ukip, agreed with the commission president.

"Mr Barroso is right to say that the only real EU debate is whether the UK leaves or stays in the EU, and not the unrealistic promises by David Cameron," he said.

A Conservative spokesman said: "If UKIP do well Brussels will ignore the outcome. UKIP are all talk when it comes to the EU. Only Conservatives will deliver change and a referendum."